THE SULTANA AND THE WOOD-CUTTER. 253 sides. They formed a double row from the court-yard to the throne-hall where the Caliph sat, and up the avenue thus formed the wood-cutter advanced, preceded by two slaves in dresses of cloth-of silver, who placed at the Caliph's feet two crystal goblets filled with rubies and emeralds of immense size. The Caliph, delighted with this superb present, rose, embraced the supposed prince, and seated him by his side. From the great wealth displayed by the wood-cutter, and the porfect grace and propriety of his manners, the Caliph suspected that he was no less a personage than the son of the King of Cathay.

" After a handsome repast had been served, the Caliph proposed a game of chess, stating that he had heard much of the prince's skill in playing. ' After I shall have played with you, 0 Commander of the Faithful!' said the wood-cutter, ' you will hear no more of my skill.' The Caliph was charmed with the modesty of this speech, and the compliment to himself, and they immediately began to play. The wood-cutter, although he might easily have beaten the Caliph, suffered the latter to win the first game, which put him into the best humor possible. But when the second game had been played, and the wood-cutter was the victor, he perceived that the Caliph's face became dark, and his good-humor was gone. ' You are too generous to your servant, 0 Caliph ! ' said he ; ' had you not given me this success as an encouragement, I should have lost a second time.' At these words Haroun smiled, and they played a third game, which the wood-cutter purposely allowed him to win. Such was the counsel given to him by Zubeydeh, who said : ' If thou permittest him to win the first game, he will be so well pleased, that thou mayest venture to defeat him on the second game. Then, when he has won the